PET POOP IS A POLLUTANT

When a pet mess is left on the sidewalk or grass, rain water can wash it into storm sewers and then it goes right into our lakes and rivers.

In the water, the poop uses oxygen as it decays and sometimes releases ammonia. Low oxygen levels and ammonia, combined with warm temperatures, can kill fish.

Pet poop also contains nutrients that encourage weed and algae growth. Overly fertile water becomes cloudy and green making it unattractive for swimming, boating and fishing. Most importantly, pet waste carries diseases, which make water unsafe for swimming or drinking.

Properly Dispose of a Pet Mess

There are a few different ways to get rid of pet poop:

Put it in the trash

Flush it down the toilet

Bury it in the yard Dig a hole or trench that is about 5 inches deep and away from vegetable gardens and any lake, stream, ditch or well. Microorganisms in the top later of the soil will break down the waste and release nutrients to fertilize nearby plants.

Use an underground pet waste digester The digester works like a small septic tank by using environment-friendly enzymes and bacteria to turn dog waste into a liquid that’s absorbed by the ground. Simply deposit the waste and add water and the enzymes.